Portable beer siphon device

ABSTRACT

The device includes a keg adapter mounted within a 1 1/2 inch keg opening and a dispenser coupler secured to the keg adapter, the adapter and coupler having gas and liquid passages for permitting ingress of gas into the keg and outflow of beer from the keg. The gas passage receives gas from a hand operated portable plunger type pump with the beer dispensing outlet including a spout. The coupler is secured to the adapter by rotating the former relative to the latter which, in turn, opens normally closed gas and liquid valves in the adapter. A liquid valve is disposed in the coupler and displacement of the spout opens the valve to permit outflow of beer therefrom.

United States Patent n 1 Johnston 1March 13, 1973 1 PORTABLE BEERSIPHONDEVICE [75] Inventor: Mack S. Johnston, Rolling Hills,

Calif. I

.[73] Assignee: Draft Systems, Inc.', Northridge,

Calif.

22 Filed: June 29, 1970 {211 Appl. No.: 50,822

Related U'.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.889,485, Dec. 31,

1969, Pat. No. 3,608,790, which is a continuation-inpart of Ser. No.819,706, April 28, 1969, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl. .......222/400.7, 137/212, 222/4008 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d83/00 [58] Field of Search ..222/400.-7, 400.8; 137/212, 137/1701;138/42 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,120,297 '6/1938'Reinecke ...222/400.7X 3,006,515 10/1961 Midnight ..222/400.7X

3,065,885 11/1962 Chatten ..222/400.7 3,494,514 2/1970 Johnston..222/400.8

644,171 2/1900 Handler... ....l37/l70.l X 3,035,603 5/1962 Jamieson etal. ....222/400.7 X 3,294,291 12/1966 Sichler ..222/4007 PrimaryExaminer-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. ScherbelAltorney-LeBlanc & Shur [57} ABSTRACT The device includes a keg adaptermounted within a 1 /2 inch keg opening and a dispenser coupler securedto the keg adapter, the adapter and coupler having gas and liquidpassages for permitting ingress of gas into the keg and outflow of beerfrom the keg. The gas passage receives gas from a hand operated portableplunger type pump with the beer dispensing outlet inv eluding a spout.The coupler is secured to the adapter by rotating the former relative tothe latter which, in turn, opens normally closed gas and liquid valvesin the adapter. A liquid valve is disposed in the coupler anddisplacement of the spout opens the valve to permit outflow of beertherefrom. I

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEnMAmma 3 55 SHEET HP 4 i: II

mvmwon MACK S. JOHNSTON ATTORN EYS PORTABLE BEER SIPHON DEVICE 3,610,478dated Oct.5, 1971.

The present invention relates to an improved beer siphoning device andparticularly relates to an improved picnic type portable beer siphoningdevice. The

portable siphoning device hereof is particularly adapted for use in theso-called Golden Gate tapping systems'which are characterized. by kegshaving one and one-half inch diameter openings.

An ever present problem exists in providing satisfactory draft beer atlocations remote from those facilities especially equipped to handle anddispense draft beer such as those facilities usually encountered inrestaurants, taverns and the like. One particular problem in providing apicnic type portable beer siphoning device is the provision of adispensing unit having a suitable pressure source for tapping the keg ata'remote location whereby the beer may be properly drawn. The usual CO2cylinder which is provided in facilities normally handling draft beeris, of course, to cumbersome to be readily provided at such remotelocations. There is also an inherent danger in improper operation of theCO2 cylinder and relatedbeer tapping equipment by persons generallyunskilled in this type of operation.

Portable pumps of the type employing a piston and cylinder arrangementhave been employed as the pressure source in' such remote locations.Pumps of this type particularly lend themselves to the tapping of a abeer key at remote locations as they are readily adapted for attachmentto the dispensing or siphoning device, develop sufficient pressure todrive the beer fromthe keg, and dispense a satisfactory glass of beer.Additionally, they are readily and easily utilized by people generallyunskilled in he mechanics of tapping a keg and drawing satisfactorybeer. An example of a portable beer siphoning device is disclosed in myU.S. Pat; No. 3,422,488 issued Jan. I4, 1969 and No. 3,494,514 issuedFeb. 10, 1970. These portable siphoning devices are however adaptedspecifically for use with kegs of the so-called Peerl'ess" type whichare characterized by dispensing openings having a three quarter inchdiameter. The portable siphoning devices therein disclosed, are,however, specifically designed for use with keg adapters compatible withthe Peerless type'kegs, i.e., similar to the adapters disclosed in theaforementioned patents. Such portable siphoning devices have not beenadapted for use in beer tapping devices employed in kegs of theso-called Golden- Gate type which are characterized by a keg opening ofgas passages and normally closed valves. At the beer tappingestablishment, a coupler is releasably secured to the keg adapter andopens one or both of the valves in the adapter depending on the type ofvalve employed. This type of unit is illustrated in my U.S. Pat. No.3,422,448 and is also illustrated in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,514, thelatter illustrating a keg adapter in combination with a portablesiphoning device.

The other currently utilized tapping system employs the Golden Gate typekeg which is characterized by an enlarged opening, usually about 1 kinches in diameter, in both its top wall and a side wall. One method oftapping a keg of the Golden Gate type is to provide two separatefittings for the keg openings, one for introducing gas or air into thekeg through the top wall opening and the other for withdrawing the beerfrom the keg through the side wall opening. This type of arrangement hasproven generally unsatisfactory from many standpoints although theGolden Gate keg is used by some of the largest U. S. breweries and thereis a side wall opening is permanently sealed and the top wall openingreceives a keg adapter having gas and liquid passageways therethroughand normally closed valves in each passageway. In that application, acoupler is provided for use with the keg adapter at the dispensingestablishment and is there releasably secured to the keg adapter in amanner to open the gas and liquid valves in the adapter to provide athrough gas passage for ingress of gas into the keg through the I thelike, and cannot be readily employed at remote locations.

The present invention provides an improved portable beer siphoningdevice which eliminates and/or minimizes'the foregoing discussedproblems associated with tapping beer from kegs at remote locations andprovides a portable keg siphoning device particularly useful with theGolden Gate type keg. Particularly, the present invention includes a kegadapter secured in the enlarged l /5 inch diameter opening of the GoldGate type keg, which adapter may be of the type described andillustrated in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 889,485 filed Dec.31, 1969, and a dispenser coupler releasably secured to the keg adapter,the dispenser coupler carrying a portable pump of the piston andcylinder type to provide gas into the keg through gas passages in thecoupler and adapter and including a liquid passage and a movable spoutfor dispensing beer from the keg. As disclosed in my aforementionedprior application, the keg adapter has gas and liquid passageways andnormally closed valves therein. The coupler hereof is rotatably securedto the keg adapter and opens the liquid and gas valves in the adapter inresponse to such rotation. The coupler includes a normally closed liquidvalve which is opened by displacement of the beer spout on the couplerwhereby beer under pressure flows through the keg adapter into thedispenser coupler for dispensing through the spout. Upon release of thespout, the liquid valve in the coupler automatically closes precludingfurther outflow of beer from the keg through the adapter and coupler.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providean improved beer siphoning device of the type for use in remotelocations where there is no readily available dispensing apparatus orsource of gas under pressure, and having a portable manually operatedpump.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedportable beer siphoning device of the type for use in remote locationsspecifically useful in tapping a Golden Gate type keg.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved portable beer siphoning device for use with a Golden Gate typekeg wherein controlled dispensing of beer directly from the beer keg isobtained by simply pivoting the curved spout carried by the couplerunit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedportable beer siphoning device for use with the keg adapter disclosed inmy co-pending application Ser. No. 889,485 filed Dec. 3 l 1969.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon reference to the following specification,appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken out for ease ofillustration of a typical Golden Gate type keg and in which the improvedtapping device of the present invention is installed, the latter devicebeing illustrated in exploded juxtaposition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded prospective view of the parts forming thenew improved tapping unit of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the keg adapter asassembled in the keg opening and the coupler prior to its securement tothe keg adapter;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of the tappingunit hereof with the coupler being illustrated as secured to the kegadapter in tapping position and the valves in the keg adapter in an openposition;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view thereof taken about on lines 5-5 inFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view thereof taken generally about on lines6--6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the keg adapter taken generallyabout on lines 7-7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the tapping unit illustrated in FIG. 4 withparts broken out for ease of illustration and illustrating the movementof the coupler arm with respect to the keg adapter in tapping the keg;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the keg with the keg adapter installed in thekeg opening and illustrating the position of the beer spout within thekeg and schematically illustrating the location of the coupler armcarrying the portable pump as the coupler is rotated between valve openand valve closed positions; and

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the keg with the tapping unithereof installed therein.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, there isillustrated one form of a conventional keg,

generally indicated at 10, of the type commonly in use with theso-called Golden Gate" type tapping systems. This conventional kegincludes a cylindrical keg body comprising side walls 12 and upper andlower walls 14 and 16 respectively. As set forth below, these upper andlower walls are generally in a concavo-convex configuration. A kegopening 18 is provided through side wall 12 adjacent the bottom of thekeg and, conventionally receives a fitting, not shown, for withdrawingbeer from the keg. In utilizing the present invention, however, thisconventional side wall fitting is not needed as both gas and beer arerespectively supplied to and withdrawn from the keg through the otherkeg opening as will be described. Thus, in accordance with the presentinvention, opening 18 is sealed by application of a plug 20 clampedagainst a shoulder 21 in opening 18 by a ring 22 threadedly receivedwithin opening 18. The threaded opening 18 is standard for all GoldenGate type kegs and the sealing plug 20 and ring 22 are formed compatiblewith this type of opening whereby modification of the standard keg andkeg opening are not necessary.

The conventional Golden Gate type keg also includes an opening 24through the upper keg wall 14. The opening 24 in this form of keg isoffset from the central axis of the keg and lies in a common diametricalplane with lower opening 18. A filler opening 25 is also formed throughthe side wall 12 of keg 10 to receive a filler rod, not shown, fortransmitting beer into the keg at the brewery when the keg is beingfilled. Typically, the upper opening 24 is about 1 1% inches in diameterand comprises stepped shoulders 26 and 28 forming a portion of anoutwardly projecting annular flange 30, flange 30 being internallythreaded outwardly of shoulder 28 as at 31.

The new improved, portable tapping unit of the present invention isadapted to be received within keg opening 24 for transmitting gas or airfrom a pressurized source, not shown, through opening 24 into the kegand for withdrawing beer from the keg through the same opening 24. Theportable tapping device of the present invention comprises a kegadapter, generally indicated at A, which is releasably secured withinthe keg opening 24 at the brewery, and which, in cooperation with plug20, seals the beer within the keg after filling at the brewery, and acoupler, generally indicated B, which is releasably secured to kegadapter A at the dispensing establishment and cooperates therewith toprovide gas into the keg and withdraw beer under pressure from the keg.

The keg adapter A is fully described and illustrated in myaforementioned co-pending application Ser. No. 889,485 filed Dec. 31,1969, which application is incorporated herein by reference thereto asthough here fully set forth. Particularly, and now specifically to FIGS.2-4, keg adapter A comprises a generally cylindrical housing or body 32having a radially outwardly directed flange 34 at its upper end, andterminating at its lower end in a wall portion 36. Housing 32 ispreferably an all stainless steel construction and a pair of laterallyoffset diametrically opposed openings 38 and 40 are formed through wallportion 36 to form portions of respective liquid and gas passagewaysthrough keg adapter A. The upper end of a siphon tube 42 formed,preferably of stainless steel tubing, is suitably secured, as by brazingor the like, within a counterbored portion 43 of offset opening 38 inend wall portion 36 and, as seen in FIG. 10, extends substantiallyvertically within the keg when adapter A is secured within opening 24.The lower end portion 44 of siphon tube 42 is bent outwardly at about adegree angle to extend toward the side wall 12 of keg F6, for reasonsdescribed hereinafter, when adapter A is finally secured within kegopening 24. Adapter body 32 also includes a pair of outwardly openingslots 46 and 48 (FIG. 2) extending different circumferential distancesand which slots open outwardly of flange 34. Slots 46 and 48 arediametrically opposed one from the other and a pair of arcuate groovesor slots 50 and 52 extend along the inner wall of body 32 in likecircumferential directions from the respective slots 46 and 48. Grooves58 and 52 extend circumferentially in a common plane, and as describedhereinafter in conjunction with slots 46 and 48, form a substantiallytwist type connection with coupler B.

A cylindrical valve body 54 is rotatably received within cylindricaladapter body 32 and includes an upwardly projecting sleeve portion 56forming a central passage 58 (FIG. 4) through the upper portion of valvebody 54. The lower end of passage 58 continues in a laterally offsetpassage 60. The underface of valve body 54 is provided with a seal 63,preferably formed of Teflon, the seal having offset openings 64 and 65in alignment with passages 60 and 62 respectively. The seal 63 ispreferably glued to the underface of the valve body 54 for sealing aboutopenings 38 and 40 in the valve closed positions as describedhereinafter. A passage 62 extends through valve body 54 at a like offsetand diametrically opposed position as passage 60. When valve body 54 islocated in the position illustrated in FIG. 4, passages 58 and 60, andopening 64, are aligned with opening 38 and in conjunction with siphontube 42, form a liquid passage through adapter A. In the same valveposition, passage 62 and opening 65 are aligned with opening 40 and, inconjunction with the gas check valve 78 to be described, form a gaspassage through adapter A.

A pair of diametrically opposed lugs 66 projectoutwardly atdiametrically opposed positions from sleeve portion 56 along the upperface of valve body 54. Lugs 66 extend radially a distance less than theradius of body 54 and are undercut as at 68 adjacent their outer ends.To retain valve body 54 in adapter body 32, the inner wall of body 34 isprovided with a groove 70 for receiving a circlip 72. As isconventional, the circlip comprises a split ring which is formed as toexert a pressure in one direction when received in a groove. As seen inFIG. 3, circlip 72 is received within groove 70 and bears about theupper margin of valve body 54 to simultaneously retain valve body 54 inadapter body 32 and to urge seal 63 carried by valve body 54 intosealing engagement against the end wall portion 36 about openings 38 and48. To assemble the adapter body, the

position, seal 63 effectively seals about openings 38 and 48.

The upper end of a nipple or sleeve 74 is received within a counterboredportion of opening 40 in end wall portion 36 and forms a part of a gascheck valve illustrated generally at 78. Sleeve 74 has a plurality ofopenings 86 spaced circumferentially thereabout intermediate its endsand has a groove 82 formed about its inner wall adjacent its lower end.Sleeve 74 is provided with a valve seat 84 and slideably receives avalve stem 86 having a cylindrical upper portion 88 which, in turn, hasa plurality of openings 90 spaced circumferentially thereabout. AnO-ring 92 is provided about valve stem 86 and an upper end of a spring94 bears against the lower end of stem 86. A circlip 96 is provided ingroove 82 and provides a seat for the lower end of spring 94.

As can best be seen in FIG. 6, valve body 32 is provided with a radiallyoutwardly projecting lug 98 and the unthreaded portion of the kegoutwardly of shoulder 26 is provided with a slot 100. To secure kegadapter A within the keg opening, a seal 102 is disposed on keg shoulder26 or about valve body 32 below flange 34 and keg adapter A is theninserted through opening 24 from without the keg. That is to say, thesiphon tube 42 is first inserted into opening 24 followed with the kegadapter body 32. For reasons hereinafter noted, it is important that thekeg adapter be aligned in a predetermined circumferential positionrelative to the keg opening. Accordingly, when inserting adapter Awithin the keg opening, adapter body 32 is rotated to align lug 98 withslot 100. In this fashion, the inclined portion 44 of siphon tube 42 islocated to extend outwardly the side wall 12 of keg 10. As seen in FIGS.3 and 4, flange 34 seats against O-ring seal 102 which, in turn, seatsagainst shoulder 26 about keg opening 24. When the adapter is finallyseated, the lower end of siphon tube 42 rests on the bottom wall of thekeg adjacent keg trough 104 between the side wall 12 and thesemi-circular rims defining the concavoconvex portion of the lower endof the keg. The lower end of siphon tube 42 is flared as at 185 andsince it is also inclined, provides an enlarged beer opening into siphontube 42. An externally threaded locking ring 106 is threaded into theinternally threaded portion 31 of keg opening 24 to clamp keg adapterflange 34 and seal 182 against shoulder 26. In this fashion, the kegadapter A is semi-permanently secured within the keg opening with theseals 64 and 102 preventing outflow of beer from the keg.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the new portable dispensercoupler B of the present invention includes a main cylindrical body orhead 110 having a reduced diameter externally threaded upper end 112. AnO-ring seal 114 is disposed about the lower diametrically enlargedportion of head 110 in a suitable groove for sealing about the interiorwalls of adapter body 32 when the coupler is secured to the adapter in amanner to be described. The lower end of head 110 includes a pair ofdiametrically opposed recesses 116 for cooperation with lug 66 on kegadapter A in a manner to be described. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 5, and9, a pair of diametrically opposed lugs 118 and 119 project fromopposite side walls of the enlarged diameter lower portion of head 110and extend different circumferential distances as to be receivablewithin the respective openings 46 and 48 formed on keg adapter A. An arm118 projects laterally from one side of head 110 and includes aninclined bore 120 opening through the lower end of head 110 via anoffset bore 121. An arm 118 includes an upwardly inclined externallythreaded projection 122 for threadedly receiving the lower end of amanually operated portable air pump generally indicated at 123. Air pump123 may comprise any conventional type pump and includes a piston 124mounted for reciprocating movement within a cylinder 125 by a piston rod126 carrying an externally disposed knob or handle 127. It will beappreciated that reciprocation of piston 124 within cylinder 125 pumpsair through the passages 120 and 121 in a conventional manner.

Coupler B also includes a valve and valve actuating assembly comprisinga fitting 130 fixed to the lower end of head 110 and a sleeve 132mounted for axial reciprocating movement within the central bore 134 ofhead 110. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, bore 134 includes a reduceddiameter bore portion 136 having a shoulder 138 axially inset from itslower end and an enlarged internally threaded lower bore portion 140.Fitting 130 includes an externally threaded upper portion 142 forthreaded engagement within lower bore 140 and a depending probe 144carrying an O-ring seal 146 adjacent its lower end. Fitting 130 includesa cen tral bore which is stepped to provide a shoulder 148 for purposesto be described.

A liquid or beer valve generally indicated at 150 is provided in head110 and comprises an annular chuck washer 152 clamped against shoulder138 by fitting 130, a bifurcated valve 154 including a valve plate 156from which a pair of spaced arms 158 project through the central openingin chuck washer 152 and a valve spring 160 seating at one end againstthe under side of valve plate 156 and, at its other end, against seat148. Spring 160 normally biases valve plate 156 against seat 152 tomaintain the liquid valve closed. The valve structure is, in allrespects, identical to the valve structure described and illustrated inmy US. Pat. No. 3,422,448 issued Jan. 14, 1969, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference thereto as through here fully setforth.

Valve actuating sleeve 132 is concentrically positioned within the bore134 of head 110 and is provided with external grooves mounting O-ringseals 162 and 164 positioned to provide a seal about the liquidpassageway. Sleeve 132 has a central bore 164 defining a central liquidpassageway in communication with the opening in chuck washer 152, thelower end of sleeve 132 seating against arms 158 of valve 150. The upperend of sleeve 132 receives the lower end ofa tube 166, preferablyplastic, which extends substantially coaxially through a curved invertedJ-shaped metal tube 168 through which beer is dispensed when valve 150and the valves in the adapter are opened. An annular member 170surrounds the lower end of tube 166 and the upper reduced diameter endof probe 132, the lower ends of member 170 and tube 166 abutting ashoulder 174 formed on sleeve 132. The upper end of member 170 has anoutwardly extending flange 176 which engages the bottom of a flange 178formed on the lower end of tube 168.

A collar 180 is threaded on the upper end of head and has a centralaperture 182 is such that tube 168 is easily and freely slidabletherethrough and also readily canted with respect to head 110. Theflange 178 butts the inturned edge 184 of collar 180 surroundingaperture 182. Thus, because of the engagement between flange 178 andcollar edge 184, the lower ends of tubes 166 and 168, member 170, andsleeve 132 are retained within head 110 against the bias of acompression spring 186 which surrounds sleeve 132 and is positionedbetween the shoulder 188 on sleeve 132 and a shoulder formed between thedifferent diameter portions of bore 134. Thus, pressing down on theJ-shaped tube 168 or canting the tube as illustrated in FIG. 4, ax iallydisplaces member 170 and sleeve 132 against the bias of spring 186 toaxially displace valve 150 which, in turn, displaces valve plate 156from valve seat 152 against the bias of spring 160 to open the liquidvalve.

To employ the keg tapping device hereof, the keg adapter A is installedat the brewery in the opening 24 in the manner as previously described.When the keg 10 is disposed at the remote location and is to be tapped,the coupler B is aligned above keg adapter A such that lugs l 18 and arealigned with slots 46 and 48 respectively. Accordingly, when coupler Bis displaced downwardly toward adapter A with lugs 118 and 120 beingreceived within the respective slots 46 and 48, the lower end of fitting130 is received within the sleeve portion 56 of valve body 54. Note thatthe O- ring seal 146 on probe 144 seals about sleeve portion 56.Furthermore, when the coupler is aligned as previously described,recesses 116 on coupler B also align above the lugs 66 on valve body 54.Thus, when coupler B has been displaced downwardly to its fullestextent, lugs 118 and 120 are aligned with the corresponding arcuateslots 50 and 52 respectively, while simultaneously, lugs 66 are locatedin recesses 116. When coupler B is thus disposed, it is rotated in aclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 9 with the lugs 118 and 120 oncoupler B riding along the respective arcuate slots until lugs l 18 and120 bear against the ends of the respective slots 50 and 52 which thencomprise stops precluding further rotation of coupler B relative toadapter A. Clockwise rotation as seen in FIG. 9 of coupler B relative toadapter A also rotates valve body 54 clockwise through the engagement oflug 66 in recesses 116 to locate the passageway 60 and 62 in valve body54 in respective alignment with the openings 38 and 50 en end wallportion 36 of adapter A. Thus, when the coupler is precluded fromfurther rotation by the slot end stops, there is provided a through gaspassage into keg 10 through coupler B and adapter A comprising the lowerend of cylinder of pump 123, passages 120 and 121 through coupler B,passageway 62, opening 65, opening 40 and the sleeve 74. Gas valve 78 isa check valve and stem 86 will be displaced downwardly against the biasof spring 94 when suitable pressure is introduced in the gas passagewaypreviously described by actuation of the manual pump 123 whereby gas mayflow into the keg through openings 88, past valve seat 84 and throughthe openings 80 in sleeve 74. Note that when the coupler is receivedwithin adapter body 32, O-ring seal 114 seals against the inner wall ofbody 32 whereby the gas passage is sealed.

When valve body 54 has been rotated to the position illustrated in FIG.4 as previously described, liquid passage is provided through adapter Acomprising siphon tube 42, opening 38, opening 64 in seal 63,passageways 50 and 58 in valve body 54, and the central bore 142 inprobe 131]. ln order to open the normally closed liquid valve 150 andthereby to dispense liquid from the inverted J-shaped tube, the lattertube is depressed or canted with respect to head 110 to axially displacemember 170 and sleeve 132 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Downwarddisplacement of these elements displaces valve plate 156 from valve seat152 opening valve 150. Thus, a through liquid passage is provided uponcanting or depressing of inverted J-shaped tube 168 whereby beer underpressure supplied by the manually operated pump 123 can flow from thekeg through adapter A and coupler B with the terminal portion ofJ-shaped tube 168 serving as the faucet. Upon release of J-shaped tube168, spring 186 displaces sleeve 132 and member 170 outwardly againstflange 178 of tube 168 whereby flange 178 engages the inner edge 184 ofcollar 180 permitting the valve spring 160 of liquid valve 150 to urgethe valve plate 156 against chuck washer 1152 again sealing the passage.

It is a further significant feature of the present invention that whenthe keg adapter A is properly positioned and secured within keg opening24 as previously described, slots 46 and 48 on adapter A and lugs 118and 120 on coupler B are so located relative to one another, such thatcoupler arm 118 and hence pump 123 lie in a position whereby the armand/or pump can be conveniently grasped and rotated without interference from the upper rim of the keg and lie wholly within thecylindrical confines of the keg. Preferably, a 90 rotation of thecoupler is provided to accomplish its securement with adapter A and theopening of the gas and liquid valves in adapter A as previouslydescribed. When the adapter is properly located, the coupler arm andpump make about a 45 angle indicated ate with a radius of the kegextending through the center of the tapping unit. By rotating thecoupler clockwise for about 90 toward securement in the adapter, thecoupler arm will pass by the center of the keg and make about a 45 angleindicated at f with the radius of the keg extending through the tappingunit in the tapped position. Thus the coupler arm and pump will liewholly within the cylindrical confines of the keg rim portion and can bereadily and easily grasped to effect coupling and uncoupling of couplerB to adapter A without injury to the individual tapping the keg orinterference from the rim of the keg.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a plurality of beads orballs 190 having varying diameters and disposed within the flexible tube166 for the purpose of slowing and thereby improving flow through tube166. Balls 190 are maintained in flexible tube 166 by an elongated wire192 which is coiled at opposite ends and extends through centralopenings formed in balls 190. This ball wire arrangement extendsapproximately for one-half the length of the inverted J-shaped tube. Asthe keg is usually overpressurized by manually pumping, theserestrictions slow the beer flow through the spout and precludeovercarbonization.

It will thus be appreciated the objects of the present invention havebeen fully accomplished in that there has been provided an improved beersiphoning device for use with a Golden Gate type tapping system and alsowith a keg adapter of the type disclosed and illustrated in myco-pending application, Ser. No. 889,485 filed Dec. 31, 1969. Theimproved portable beer siphoning device hereof, as will be appreciatedfrom the foregoing description, is readily and easily actuated todispense beer through the inverted J-shaped spout merely by canting ordepressing the spout with the beer valve in the coupler automaticallysealing the beer passage upon release of the inverted J-shaped tube.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like containerhaving top, bottom and side walls with an opening in at least one ofsaid walls comprising: a keg adapter having a generally cylindrical bodyadapted to be secured within the keg wall opening and having gas andliquid passageways extending therethrough for the respective transfer ofgas into the keg and of liquid out of the keg, normally closed valvemeans in said gas and' liquid passageways, said valve means including avalve body rotatable in a plane extending substantially normal to theaxis of said body between a first position sealing said passageways anda second position opening said passageways, a dispensing coupler unitincluding a coupler head having gas and liquid passageways therethrough,means for releasably securing said coupler head to said keg adapter,means carried by said coupler head for rotating said valve body intosaid second position and locating the respective gas and liquidpassageways in said coupler and said adapter in communication one withthe other, a member movably carried by said coupler head, means carriedby said coupler head for biasing said member for movement into a firstposition, a normally closed valve carried by said coupler head in itsliquid passageway, and means extending exterior of said coupler head forselectively moving said member. against said bias into a second positionto open the normally closed valve carried by said coupler when saidcoupler head is secured to said adapter, said member comprising a sleeveforming a portion of said liquid passage, said moving means beingcoupled to an end of said sleeve and forming a continuation of theliquid passage through said sleeve; said biasing means biasing saidsleeve for movement in one direction with said exterior means beingadapted to move said sleeve in a direction opposite to said onedirection.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupler head has ashoulder, means securing said moving means to said coupler headincluding a projection carried by said moving means and engageableagainst said shoulder, said biasing means normally maintaining saidprojection in engagement against said shoulder.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupler head includes anexternally threaded portion, a collar threadedly engaging said threadedcoupler head portion and having an inwardly directed annular flangedefining a central opening, said moving means including a tubereceivable through said opening and carrying a flange inwardly of saidcollar engageable against the flange on said collar, said biasing meansnormally maintaining the flange carried by said tube in engagementagainst the flange carried by said collar.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gas passage meansincludes a bore through said coupler head offset from the central axisthereof, said biasing means including a spring engaging between saidsleeve and said coupler head.

5. A liquid dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like containerhaving top, bottom and side walls with an opening in at least one ofsaid walls comprising: a keg adapter having a generally cylindrical bodyadapted to be secured within the keg wall opening and having gas andliquid passageways extending therethrough for the respective transfer ofgas into the keg and of liquid out of the keg, normally closed valvemeans in said gas and liquid passageways, said valve means including avalve body rotatable in a plane extending substantially normal to theaxis of said body between a first position sealing said passageways anda second position opening said passageways, a dispensing coupler unitincluding a coupler head having gas and liquid passageways therethrough,means for releasably securing said coupler head to said keg adapter,means carried by said coupler head for rotating said valve body intosaid second position and locating the respective gas and liquidpassageways in said coupler and said adapter in communication one withthe other, a member movably carried by said coupler head, means carriedby said coupler head for biasing said member for movement into a firstposition, a normally closed valve carried by said coupler head in itsliquid passageway, and means extending exterior of said coupler head forselectively moving said member against said bias into a second positionto open the normally closed valve carried by said coupler when saidcoupler head is secured to said adapter, said moving means includinginner and outer concentric tubular means with said inner means forming acontinuation of said liquid passage in said coupler head, said couplerhead having a shoulder, means securing said moving means to said couplerhead including a projection carried by said outer tubular means andengageable against said shoulder, said biasing means normallymaintaining said projection in engagement against said shoulder.

6. A liquid dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like containerhaving top, bottom and side walls with an opening in at least one ofsaid walls comprising: a keg adapter having a generally cylindrical bodyadapted to be secured within the keg wall opening and having gas andliquid passageways extending therethrough for the respective transfer ofgas into the keg and of liquid out of the keg, normally closed valvemeans in said gas and liquid passageways, said valve means including avalve body rotatable in a plane extending substantially normal to theaxis of said body between a first position sealing said passageways anda second position opening said assa eways, a dispensing eoupler unitincluding a coup er ead having gas and iquld passageways therethrough,means for releasably securing said coupler head to said keg adapter,means carried by said coupler head for rotating said valve body intosaid second position and locating the respective gas and liquidpassageways in said coupler and said adapter in communication one withthe other, a member movably carried by said coupler head, means carriedby said coupler head for biasing said member for movement into a firstposition, a normally closed valve carried by said coupler head in itsliquid passageway, and means extending exterior of said coupler head forselectively moving said member against said bias into a second positionto open the normally closed valve carried by said coupler when saidcoupler head is secured to said adapter, said valve in said coupler headincluding a movable valve element and a valve seat, means for biasingsaid valve element into normal sealing engagement with said valve seat,said member being engageable with said valve element to displace thelatter away from said seat in response to movement of said member fromits first position into its second position, said member comprising asleeve forming a portion of said liquid passage, said moving means beingcoupled to an end of said sleeve and forming a continuation of theliquid passage through said sleeve; said biasing means biasing saidsleeve for movement in one direction with said exterior means beingadapted to move said sleeve in a direction opposite to said onedirection, said valve seat having a central opening, said valve elementincluding a plate engageable against said seat and a stem extendingthrough said central opening, said sleeve being engageable with saidstem to displace said plate away from said seat to open said valve.

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like containerhaving top, bottom and side walls with an opening in at least one ofsaid walls comprising: a keg adapter having a generally cylindrical bodyadapted to be secured within the keg wall opening and having gas andliquid passageways extending therethrough for the respective transfer ofgas into the keg and of liquid out of the keg, normally closed valvemeans in said gas and liquid passageways, said valve means including avalve body rotatable in a plane extending substantially normal to theaxis of said body between a first position sealing said passageways anda second position opening said passageways, a dispensing coupler unitincluding a coupler head having gas and liquid passageways therethrough,means for releasably securing said coupler head to said keg adapter,means carried by said coupler head for rotating said valve body intosaid second position and locating the respective gas and liquidpassageways in said coupler and said adapter in communication one withthe other, a member movably carried by said coupler head, means carriedby said coupler head for biasing said member for movement into a firstposition, a normally closed valve carried by said coupler head in itsliquid passageway, and means extending exterior of said coupler head forselectively moving said member against said bias into a second positionto open the normally closed valve carried by said coupler when saidcoupler head is secured to said adapter, said member comprising a sleeveforming a portion of said liquid passage, said moving means beingcoupled to an end of said sleeve and forming a continuation of theliquid passage through said sleeve; said biasing means biasing saidsleeve for movement in one direction with said exterior means beingadapted to move said sleeve in a direction opposite to said onedirection.
 1. A liquid dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or likecontainer having top, bottom and side walls with an opening in at leastone of said walls comprising: a keg adapter having a generallycylindrical body adapted to be secured within the keg wall opening andhaving gas and liquid passageways extending therethrough for therespective transfer of gas into the keg and of liquid out of the keg,normally closed valve means in said gas and liquid passageways, saidvalve means including a valve body rotatable in a plane extendingsubstantially normal to the axis of said body between a first positionsealing said passageways and a second position opening said passageways,a dispensing coupler unit including a coupler head having gas and liquidpassageways therethrough, means for releasably securing said couplerhead to said keg adapter, means carried by said coupler head forrotating said valve body into said second position and locating therespective gas and liquid passageways in said coupler and said adapterin communication one with the other, a member movably carried by saidcoupler head, means carried by said coupler head for biasing said memberfor movement into a first position, a normally closed valve carried bysaid coupler head in its liquid passageway, and means extending exteriorof said coupler head for selectively moving said member against saidbias into a second position to open the normally closed valve carried bysaid coupler when said coupler head is secured to said adapter, saidmember comprising a sleeve forming a portion of said liquid passage,said moving means being coupled to an end of said sleeve and forming acontinuation of the liquid passage through said sleeve; said biasingmeans biasing said sleeve for movement in one direction with saidexterior means being adapted to move said sleeve in a direction oppositeto said one direction.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidcoupler head has a shoulder, means securing said moving means to saidcoupler head including a projection carried by said moving means andengageable against said shoulder, said biasing means normallymaintaining said projection in engagement against said shoulder. 3.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupler head includes anexternally threaded portion, a collar threadedly engaging said threadedcoupler head portion and having an inwardly directed annular flangedefining a central opening, said moving means including a tubereceivable through said openIng and carrying a flange inwardly of saidcollar engageable against the flange on said collar, said biasing meansnormally maintaining the flange carried by said tube in engagementagainst the flange carried by said collar.
 4. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said gas passage means includes a bore through saidcoupler head offset from the central axis thereof, said biasing meansincluding a spring engaging between said sleeve and said coupler head.5. A liquid dispensing apparatus for use with a keg or like containerhaving top, bottom and side walls with an opening in at least one ofsaid walls comprising: a keg adapter having a generally cylindrical bodyadapted to be secured within the keg wall opening and having gas andliquid passageways extending therethrough for the respective transfer ofgas into the keg and of liquid out of the keg, normally closed valvemeans in said gas and liquid passageways, said valve means including avalve body rotatable in a plane extending substantially normal to theaxis of said body between a first position sealing said passageways anda second position opening said passageways, a dispensing coupler unitincluding a coupler head having gas and liquid passageways therethrough,means for releasably securing said coupler head to said keg adapter,means carried by said coupler head for rotating said valve body intosaid second position and locating the respective gas and liquidpassageways in said coupler and said adapter in communication one withthe other, a member movably carried by said coupler head, means carriedby said coupler head for biasing said member for movement into a firstposition, a normally closed valve carried by said coupler head in itsliquid passageway, and means extending exterior of said coupler head forselectively moving said member against said bias into a second positionto open the normally closed valve carried by said coupler when saidcoupler head is secured to said adapter, said moving means includinginner and outer concentric tubular means with said inner means forming acontinuation of said liquid passage in said coupler head, said couplerhead having a shoulder, means securing said moving means to said couplerhead including a projection carried by said outer tubular means andengageable against said shoulder, said biasing means normallymaintaining said projection in engagement against said shoulder.